Travel in Style at LAX's New VIP Terminal

Don’t you just despise it when, after a long flight, you step off the aircraft and make your way through the airport terminal only to be met by hordes of eager, camera-touting paparazzi? Us neither.

But for some, it is a concern. Which is why high-profile passengers flying from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) can now avoid the crowds of curious eyes by using a separate VIP terminal exclusively for premium ticket holders.

Opening May 15, "The Private Suite" will be accessible to First and Business passengers for a fee that starts at $2,000 per visit. For that sum, you will benefit from a discreet and seamless airport experience that includes a private check-in, security screening, and customs process, meaning you don’t have to endure the usual airport queues.

There is also a chauffeured BMW service that will ferry you to and from the aircraft and the terminal. Your baggage will also be taken care of while you relax one of the luxury suites. In total, a team of eight people will be at your disposal, including several drivers and an airport escort.

"It typically takes 2,200 footsteps from car seat to plane seat," the terminal’s website reads. "For members of The Private Suite, it’s 70 footsteps. And they are all peaceful footsteps."

If you want to streamline your passage through LAX there are two options to gain access to The Private Suite; a $7,500-a-year membership that gives you reduced rates for the access to the terminal, along with some perks such as free massages before a flight; or pay a steeper, one-off fee each visit, ranging between $2,000 and $3,500 for domestic flights and $2,500 and $4,000 for international flights, depending on whether you want to relax in a private suite or a larger shared room.

"The Private Suite" is situated right next to the main runways at LAX. It is owned and operated by security firm Gavin de Becker & Associates, and it's based on other VIP services offered at airports overseas, including London Heathrow.

Members that pay the annual $7,500 membership fee will benefit from lower rates, the option to book six months in advance, and to book free, pre-flight massages.

Altogether, there are 13 private room for passengers to rest, work, or unwind. Each has their own bathrooms, fully stocked fridges, and wall-mounted dispensers full of snacks such as dark chocolate pieces.